It has been almost 2 years since my first attempt at running the marathon in person and since then more than 10,000 people have been diagnosed with ALS. Friends have been diagnosed and are fighting for their lives. I'm keenly aware of the blessing to simply move my fingers to write this call to action. This debilitating disease has affected some of the most amazing people in my life and my community - Katie Penta (Wanda Dyer), Keith Benjamin (Robert Benjamin), the Hodges family, whose lives have been forever changed as we continue to fight for a cure.
Both Katie and Keith have lived through the pain of saying goodbye to a parent because of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) long before they should have had to. In both the case of Katie’s mom, Wanda, and Keith’s dad, Robert, they managed to find blessings in every breath. Rather than being hardened by their circumstances, they found gratitude in the gift of life - even when days became numbered. Watching Tom and his family's commitment to community, positivity and genuine spirit reminds me to count my blessings over and over again.
On October 11th I will have the opportunity to FINALLY run the Boston Marathon with Katie AND raise funds for Compassionate Cares ALS – an amazing organization that provides support to families who struggle with the day-to-day realities of ALS. The marathon has been an unofficial life-goal that I mustered up the courage to throw out into the universe and it came back with a resounding answer: You will run AND you will raise funds for an organization, a cause, and people who I care for deeply.
I’d be honored for your support breaking $10,000, ONE DOLLAR for every person diagnosed since the last in-person marathon.
Total
$7,428.95